Wing members experience refueling with family

  • Published
  • By Capt. Suzanne Lamb
  • 157th Air Refuelign Wing Public Affairs
PEASE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.H. --  Five wing members with three of their family members, experienced the excitement of a mid-air refueling during an orientation flight aboard a 157th Air Refueling Wing KC-135 May 5.

Master Sgt. Al Poulin from the communications flight brought along his recently enlisted son, Christopher, who will become a structural engineer in the civil engineer squadron. MSgt Poulin appreciates the opportunity the orientation program provides.

"I brought my wife, Cindy, on a refueling mission already and she loved it so much she didn't want to come down," said Poulin. "This will be a great experience for Christopher before he heads to basic training."

The two-hour training flight with McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, included the refueling of a KC- 135.

There are only 12 KC 135's in the inventory able to receive fuel in mid-air, offering passengers a rare opportunity to see two identical planes perform the refueling.

Maj. Dennis Jones from the 157th Logistic Squadron and his wife, Patricia, celebrated their second wedding anniversary during the flight.

"What is he going to plan to celebrate our anniversary next year?" asked Mrs. Jones. "You can't beat this."

In addition to serving family members, the orientation flight program offers wing members who do not fly as part of their military job an opportunity to experience aerial refueling.

"This program is great," stated Airman 1st Class Siso Gomez, 157th Logistics Squadron supply technician. "I finally get to see how my work is contributing to the wing's mission. For me, this flight made it all come together."

For more information about orientation flights, please contact MSgt Dan Pollard at Dan.pollard@ang.af.mil.